how do i sit through a semester of classes?

[jamiegross]

soo i was just diagnosed with pudendal nueralgia two weeks ago.. lately it has become unbearable for me to sit at all unless i am sitting on my knees which i clearly cant do forever.. i'm in college, i have 2 and a half more years of sitting through long lectures and tests.. im kind of freaking out because i literally don't see how this is physically possible.. i tried the IC cushion but it did nothingg if anyone has any cushions they recommend, or any tips for getting through this semester, please please let me know

[Karyn]

Hi Jamie,
I can certainly understand your dilema. The only thing I can think of to suggest is: try sitting on the very end of your chair, so you're not getting the full pressure. I also sit to the side, so I only have one butt cheek making contact with the chair. I tolerate that for as long as I can, and then switch to the other side. Are you taking any meds that may be helpful?
Warm regards,
Karyn

[pomegranate]

Jamie,

I'm so sorry you're faced with this difficulty! Is it impossible for you to stand in the back? I took a grad class this summer and that was part of my PN survival toolkit for school Can you sacrum sit? In addition, I'm not sure how it works in Australia, but you should definitely register with the disabilities office so you can get your reasonable accomodations in place.

Lauren

[TracyB7777]

I do think you should look into the possibility of standing in the class. You really don't want to make the situation any worse. I know your classmates and teacher would get used to it in time and could make all the difference in the world to you. Our staff is now so used to me standing that they joke with new comers about not "allowing" me to sit; gets through the initial discomfort of the explanation. I even held an ice pak between me and the wall today during our meeting. Do whats betst for you, just explain to the instructor before hand and they should be ok with it.

[Faith]

I am so sorry you are having to deal with this pain in college. I know that has to be so difficult. The only cushion that has worked for me is a donut cushion (cut down some) and straped onto a plastic toliet seat. Kind of embarrassing I know but it works.

[Violet M]

I took a light portable cot with me to class a couple of years ago. Hey, if the American with Disabilities Act allows for wheelchairs, doesn't it also need to allow for cots?

Now that I have a roho cushion I don't need a cot. I love the roho but I will admit it's rather bulky.

[A's Mommy]

Jamie,

I made the modified Antolak/gardener's kneeling pad cushion thingy. I will try and take a picture of it and get it up on the forum for you.

Praying for you, dear,

AM

[jamiegross]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond..

Karyn- I do try sitting like you described, it is helpful but still definitely causes pain after having a few hours of class.. luckily this semester I am abroad so I don’t have to take these classes to seariously and can leave class if I have to.. ( don’t know what im going to do when I start nursing school next year though).. im currently taking lyrica which has helped somewhat with the burning and I recently started cymbalta..

Lauren and Tracy- maybe I will eventually ask to stand, but that realy would be humiliating and I would be standing alone which is even more humiliating.. I think id rather take the pain for now as sad as that is.. maybe one day ill stop caring..

Violet and faith- your responses both made me laugh out loud! That is very brave of you both .. violet, what kind of roho cushion do you have? I looked on the website they seem to have a bunch.. they are costly but if it helps, its worth it for sure..

AM- thank you I look forward to the picture and maybe will gain some ideas from it..

Thanks again everyone !

[calluna]

I do sympathise, this can't be easy for you to come to terms with. I would just remind you, if you are standing at the back, as I'd expect, remember that the only person looking at you will be the lecturer. Everyone else will be (or ought to be!) looking at the lecturer, and will have their backs to you.

I would bet also that you will be surprised how nobody really pays much attention to the fact that you stand, if you choose to.

Also - the cushion that has made the difference for me - two versions, actually - this one with the cover, and this one without, otherwise identical. They enable me to cope with being in the car. (We have two because my husband also likes them, he has lower back problems due to fractured vertebra when he was a teenager.)

[Violet M]

what kind of roho cushion do you have? I looked on the website they seem to have a bunch.. they are costly but if it helps, its worth it for sure..!

I have the contour select that has a bit of a cut-out in the back for the coccyx area. You can find it on this page. http://www.therohogroup.com/products/se ... /index.jsp
I've just ordered a second one that's a bit smaller than the one I have now so it will fit in my chair better. Both United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield have covered a good portion of the cost of these cushions. I have to stress that the roho cushion is a bit bulky so it's not the easiest cushion to carry around.

I just noticed the toilet seat roho cushion for $259. http://www.therohostore.com/Products/RO ... OILET.aspx You would have to put a very good disguise cover on it though it you were to take it out in public!